Kazakhstan, European Investment Bank Deepen Ties on Energy, Infrastructure, and Digital Innovation

Kazakhstan and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have advanced talks on expanding cooperation across infrastructure, clean energy, and digital‑technology projects, as well as on the Kazakhstan-EU Strategic Partnership on Critical Raw Materials.

During a meeting in Luxembourg, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov met with EIB Director‑General Andrew McDowell to review several high‑profile initiatives, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

These included the development of the Trans‑Caspian International Transport Route (also known as the Middle Corridor) and the status of a 1.47 billion-euro-Memorandum of Understanding signed by the EIB with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan.

The two sides underscored their focus on collaboration in the fields of clean energy and critical raw materials. Issetov welcomed the signing of a separate memorandum between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and the EIB for the Kambarata‑1 Hydropower Plant project, which took place during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on October 9-10, 2025.

Notable progress was also reported in discussions with Kazakh companies such as Sarytogan Graphite and ZhezkazganRedMet under the Kazakhstan-EU Roadmap on Critical Raw Materials for 2025-26.

The agenda further extended into digital innovation: Kazakhstan presented its AI‑related initiatives-including the establishment of the Alem.AI International Centre and the planned national “Smart Cargo” platform for automating customs and logistics services. In recognition, Kazakhstan thanked the EIB for supporting digital‑connectivity projects such as a joint initiative with Luxemburg’s SES to deliver internet access to over 600 rural settlements in Kazakhstan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepen their strategic partnership and to move forward with concrete investment projects aimed at enhancing regional resilience and strengthening energy and transport connectivity.